Sunshade



Dec. 22, 1964 M. c. BETTS 3,162;206

SUNSHADE Filed March 7, 1963 INVENTOR 35 Murr/e C. Baits 1 o 3AM) ATTORNEYS may be readily fitted to various size chairs.

United States Patent @ilice 3,162,235 Patented Dec. 22., 1964 3,162,206 SUNSHADE Mun'ie C. Betts, R0. Box 10816, t. Petersburg, Fla. Filed Mar. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 263,474 4 Claims. (Cl. 135-71) The present invention relates generally to a sunshade and, more particularly, to a shade which may be readily attached to any type of chair so as to provide an awninglike canopy for the chair. The sunshade according to the present invention is so constructed that it may be attached to any chair having a back support.

There are presently available a wide variety of out- .and cumbersome and are diflicult to position securely.

There has been a need for a sunshade which is lightweight, easy to operate and which is readily adjustable to any angle and to fit any sized chair.

According to the present invention there is provided a sunshade for a chair which comprises a frame adapted to be attached to the back of a chair and to which is connected an awning supporting frame in such a manner that the awning is supported above the chair to afford adequate shade for the occupant. The means for attaching the shade to the chair retains the awning firmly in engagement with the chair and yet the attaching means Means is provided whereby the angular relation of the awning with respect to the chair may be adjusted.

The present invention includes a supporting frame to which is secured a pair of hanger members which are adapted to engage the upper edge of the back of a chair. Pivotally secured to the frame is a pair of hook-shaped members which are adapted to engage the sides of the back of a chair. A spring means urges the hook-shaped members into a retracted position to retain the members in engagement with the sides of the back of a chair. The combination of the hanger members engaging the top edge of a chair and hooks engaging the sides of the back of a chair retain the frame firmly in engagement with the chair and provides an adequate support for the awning which is connected to the frame by means which permits angular adjustment of the awning with respect to the frame supported from the back of the chair.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sunshade for a chair which is adapted to be readily attachable to any sized chair.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an awning or canopy which may be attached to the side and top edges of the back of any chair to provide shade for the occupant of the chair and wherein the singular relationship of the awning or canopy with respect to the chair may be readily adjusted.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a sunshade which is lightweight and portable and may be readily attached to a chair. The sunshade according to the present invention is economical to construct, requiring a minimum of materials and assembly and thus is commercially feasible.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent upon consideration of the following detailed specification in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevatio-nal view taken from the rear of a chair showing one embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is side elevational view of the embodiment of the sunshade shown in FIG 1,

FIG. 3 is broken sectional view along the lines 33 of FIG. 2 and showing the ease for connecting the canopy to the supporting frame,

PEG. 4 is a partial elevational View of another embodiment of the invention and,

FIG. 5 is broken sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing a modification of the connecting means between the support frame and canopy.

Referring now, more specifically, to the drawing wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views there is shown in FIG. 1 as supporting frame 1 comprising a pair of arms 2 and 3 interconnected by a base portion This support frame 1 may be made of any suitable material but most conveniently is a metal bar which has portions 5 and 6 of the base 4 bent so as to extend substantially normally with respect to the remainder of the base. Attached to the portions 5 and 6 of the support frame is a pair of hanger members '7 and 8 which have the upper end portions bent into a generally U-shaped configuration as shown at 9 in FIG. 2. The

:- hanger members 7 and 8 are attached to the base portions 5 and 6, respectively by means permitting swivelling of the hanger members in such a manner that the U- shaped end portions may engage the tops of chairs having various contours.

There are provided a pair of L-shaped hook members it) and it which have their inner ends pivoted to the base portion 4 and at 12 and 13, respectively. The outer ends of the hook-members it) and 11 are provided with forwardly bent generally U-shaped end portions such as shown at 14 in FIG. 2. As is clearly seen in FIG. 1 the intermediate portion of the each of the members 10 and 11 connecting the arms of the L is formed as an eye to provide an attaching point for a spring 15 which urges the arms lit and Ill to a retracted position so as to retain the hook-shaped end portions of the members 10 and 11 in engagement with the sides of the back of a chair as shown. Members It) and 11 may be disengaged from the sides of the back of a chair by pivoting the members outwardly against the tension of the spring until the end portions of the members 10 and 11 become disengaged from the chair. The pivotally mounted hook members iii and 11 may be readily engaged with the side edges of chair backs of varying widths.

The spring means interconnecting the members it and 11 retain the hook-members in engagement with the chair. Thus, the combination of the swivelly mounted hangers 7 and ti and the pivotally mounted hook-members lit? and it permits the support frame 1 to be readily attached to and disengaged from chair backs having a wide variety of contours and of varying widths. The hanger members and side engaging hooks retain the frame'in engagement with the chair back firmly and support the frame so that the arms 2 and 3 extend angularly upwardly from the chair back as shown in FIG. 2. Obviously, by varying the configuration of the support frame the angle at which the arms 2 and 3 extend upwardly may be varied.

The shade is attached to the upper ends of the arms 2 and 3 of the support frame. The shade comprises an awning or canopy supporting frame 16 and a cover 1-7. The shade or cover 17 may be made of any fabric, such as denim, canvas, or may be made of plastic or liberglass. The canopy or awning is crowned so as to cause rainwater to run off. The means connecting the arms of the support frame and the awning permits angular adjustment of the awning with respect to the support frame such as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2. Such FIG. 1 embodiment.

1 means shown in FIG. 3.

7 frame in any desired angular position. a

means may include an elongated rod or shaft 18 having a one end portion threaded as at 19 and the other end portion bent as at 20 to form a crank handle. The shaft 13 extends through apertures in the awning support frame 16 and. in the outer ends of the arms 2 and 3. A collar 21 is journalled on the shaft lii'between the arrnsZ and 3."

3. By rotating the shaft 18in the opposite direction thethreaded end portion will move inwardly on the nut 23 so that the support frame 16 is free to move with respect to the arms 2 and!) the angular position of the canopy.

can be adjusted.

In FIG, there is shown another form of means for adjusting the angular relation of the awning and support frame. The arrangement shown in KG. 5 is particularly useful where a preformed plastic canopy 24 is provided, The arms 2 and 3 of the support frame, are retained in engagement with the canopy 24' by threaded studs 25 and '26 which extend through the apron of the sneaaoe portion,

A said hanger members adaptedrto engage, the top of the back of a chair, a pair of hook members pivotally connected to said base portion, spring means interconnecting said hook members, said hook members adapted to be extended to engage the side edges of the back of a chair and adapted to be retained in engaged position by said spring means, an awning frame, a shaft extending through said awning frame and the arms of said support frame, a nut secured to said awning frame, a threaded end portion on said shaft engaging said nut, a collar freely rotatableon said shaft between the arms of said support frame, rotation of said shaft in one direction locking the canopy 24 and through apertures in the end portions of the arms 2 and 3. 'Wing nuts 27 and 28 securely retain the canopy in a preselectedangular position with respect to the arms 2 and 3. There may be provided a metal race 29 having downwardly turned end portions in order to insure adequate support for the canopy.

In FIG. 4 there is shown anotheriembodiment of the invention wherein the support; frame; comprises :a'base portion 30 with arms 31' and 32 integrally formedtherewith. The hanger members 33' and 34 are swivelly conconted to the base portion in a manner similar to the connection of hangers 7 ands and base portion 4 of the Similarly, the L-shaped hook members 35 and 36 are pivotallyconnected to the base portion 30. These hook membersare interconne'ctedby means of spring 37 and function in a manner identical to the members 19 and 11 of the FIG. 1 embodiment.

canopy support frame 38 has a pair of upwardly extending arms 39 and 40 and a canopy is affixed to these arms The canopy frame 38 is con- 39 by meansidentical to the 7 A shaft 41 extends through apertures iii the arms 31, 32, 39 and 4%). y A nut 42 is atfixed to the outer face of 83113.9 and a threaded endportion-43 on the shaft'41. extends. through this not. A

at the outerends thereof. nected to the support frame awning frame against the arms of the support frame, rotation of said shaft in anopposite direction releasing the locking engagement of the support and awning frames so as to permit angular adjustmentof the awning frame with respect to the support frame. 2. 'A, shade for'attachment'to a chair comprising, in "combinatiom'a frame, means for connecting a sunshade to saidframe, a pair of hanger members mounted on said frame and adapted to engage the top edge of the back of a chair, a pair'of hook members pivotally'mounted on said frame,-spring means .operatively associated with said hook members and'urging said hook members into a retracted position, said. hook members adapted to engage the sides of the back of a chair in an extended position of i the hook members whereby said spring means retains said hook members in engagement with the chair and said frameissuppoited so" as to extend generally upwardly from the back of a chair. i p 3. A sunsh'ade for attachment to a chair, comprising a generally 'U-shaped frame including a pair of arms. interconnected with'a base portion, an awning support frame, an elongatedshaftv interconnecting the awning support frameandthe outer ends of the arms of the U-shaped frame, means 'on'said shaft whereby upon rotation of the shaft the awning support frame may be locked in a predetermined angular relation with respect to the U-shaped frame, a pair of hanger members secured to the base portionfof the U-shaped frame'forengaging the top edge.

of the back ofa chair, a pair of book members pivotally connected to the base of the U-shaped frame, spring means interconnecting the hook members and urging said The" V hook members to a retracted position, saidho'ok members adapted. to be extended to engage the side edges of the back of a chair and adapted to be retained in e-ngaged position by said spring means.

4. An attachmentwhich can be mounted upon the I back-of a chair having an upper edge and sideedges to thus position a sunshade secured to said attachment in overlying relationship to ,the seat of said chair, said atcollar 44 is journal led on the. shaft between the arms 31 and 32.. By tightening the shaft 41 in the nut 42 the arms of the canopy frame become tightly engaged with the" arms of the support frame-3% was to locktheca'nogiY It can be seen "that according to theipresent The hanger member's andside engaging-. hooks provide present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. I

What is claimedas new and desired to be ecuf by g Letters Patent is: V x

1. A sunshade for acha' comprising a support frame having a pairYorfarms interconnected with a'base portion, hanger members swivellyf connected to saidhase,

inventionthere is provided a sunshade which is adapted to be attached to chairs of a wide varietybf contours and sizes} i tachment. comprising a frame adapted to support the sunshade thereon, said frame including an elongated portion which cxtendsacross the back of said chair and between the said edges thereon, meansrnountedon said elongated portion and adaptedto engage said chair-back upper edge to mount, said attachment on said chair, a pair of pivotally ,mounted members on said'elongated portion, said members having hookedends thereon which are adapted to :engage the side edges of said chair back to preventsaid attachment from moving. relative to said chair, and a spring'me'ans extending between said members to bias said members toward one another and to thus retain said hooked ends in engagement with saidside edges.

, References Cited the Examiner" J UNITED STATES PATENTS.

1,9 2,730 6/34 Boyd. 7 I r 2,747,653, 5/56 Obradov-ich -1ss s X 2,337,140 "6/ 58 Hedman'"; 297-184X HAn rs ON RJMOsELEY,"Prim r Examiner; 

2. A SHADE FOR ATTACHMENT TO A CHAIR COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FRAME, MEANS FOR CONNECTING A SUNSHADE TO SAID FRAME, A PAIR OF HANGER MEMBERS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE TOP EDGE OF THE BACK OF A CHAIR, A PAIR OF HOOK MEMBERS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, SPRING MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID HOOK MEMBERS AND URGING SAID HOOK MEMBERS INTO A RETRACTED POSITION, SAID HOOK MEMBERS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE SIDES OF THE BACK OF A CHAIR IN AN EXTENDED POSITION OF THE HOOK MEMBERS WHEREBY SAID SPRING MEANS RETAINS SAID HOOK MEMBERS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CHAIR AND SAID FRAME IS SUPPORTED SO AS TO EXTEND GENERALLY UPWARDLY FROM THE BACK OF A CHAIR. 